ANGELICA ( Lat. angelic, i.e., plant or herb. in allusion to its medicinal qualities). A genus of plants of the natural order Umbelliferte. by some botanists divided into two, Angelica and Archangeliea. The species are mostly herbaceous and perennial, natives of the temperate and colder regions of the nm them hemisphere. They have bipinnate or tripinnate leaves. Wild angel ica (Ai/gel/ea sylrcstris) is a common plant in moist meadows, by the sides of brooks, and in woods throughout many parts of Europe and Asia. The root is perennial. short, ringed, and branched: it is white within, and contains a yellow, milky juice. The stein is hollow. to 5 feet high, often flecked with red; the umbel is convex. Garden angelica ( A reliangclim olliyi nali•;) is a biennial plant, becoming perennial when not allowed to ripen its seeds. It has greenish flowers in almost spherical umbels. The stem is as high as a man. The fruit is long and straw-colored. The root is long and nisi form, an inch or more in thickness, with thick, irregular rugose rootlets. The whole plant, and especially the root, is aromatic and bitter, con taining much resin and essential oil. The root has been admitted into the pha•maeopreias as an aromatic stimulant and tonic, and used in nerv ous ailments. and in indigestion and flatulence.
It is very little used. The root of Angelica syl vestris is sometimes substituted for it, hut is much weaker. The garden angelica was at one time much cultivated for the blanched stalks, which -A ere used as celery now is; but its cultiva tion for this purpose has been almost entirely discontinued. The tender stalks and midribs of the leaves, candied, are still, however, a well known article of confectionery and an agreeable stomachic; the roots and seeds are employed in the preparation of gin and of "bitters." The plant is a very doubtful native of Great Britain. but is common in many parts of Europe. and even in Lapland and Iceland. The Laplanders tint only use it as food, but regard the stalks roasted in hot ashes as an efficacious remedy in pectoral disorders. The powdered seeds of the wild angelica are used by the country people in some parts of Europe to kill lice. Several species of Angelica are natives of North Amer ica, Angelica hirsul a and Angelica atropurpu rea being the best known in the eastern United States. They are perhaps without any impor tant economic. value.